A local autism charity has closed saying that it cannot afford to keep going.
Assert Brighton and Hove, which has been helping autistic adults in the city for more than 20 years, announced to service users it would be closing last week.
The charity helped with benefits advice and advocacy casework, as well as social events and life skills courses.
Their waiting list for registration with Assert closed in May last year, due to staff shortages and the demands on the charity’s services.
An email to service users said: “We are sorry and saddened to tell you that Assert is closing.
“This is due to a lack of funding meaning Assert cannot afford to keep going.
“We are therefore not able to offer any more services, including benefits advice, casework or courses.
“We know that the news of Assert’s closure will be upsetting.
“Assert has been supporting clients for over 20 years.
“While we know that the need to close Assert is very sad, we would like to close with an event to celebrate Assert’s legacy.
“This is provisionally planned for June and both registered clients and members of our parents, partners and carers group will be welcome to attend.”
The charity organised a last drop-in service on Tuesday, 14 May and hope to organise a legacy event in summer to celebrate their work.
Such a loss. When orgs close we lose so much. I’ll bet it wasn’t millions they needed and that they were real value for money. Now where do their clients go?
Shortsighted to lose established charities who serve underreached groups.
Always sad to see an organisation that has been delivering an important service. It serves as a reminder how relying purely on grant funding is a massive gamble these days.
I’ve taken over the autism meetup for Brighton. I think most of us are low support needs but who knows maybe the community could help out itself in some way.
There’s a few methods. There’s a few grant funders out there that focus on things like what this group provided. Might be worth a research into?
I’d love to join. I’m 52 and was diagnosed at 46. No real support.
Dear Giles.
I’ve got Asperger’s and live in the Old Steine. I’d only just discovered Access when I heard they were closing!
Read your post saying you were taking it over – what are you offering and could an Asperger’s guy help out in any way? I’m good at computers and am always willing to help out in any way I can – it’s just I’ve got Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia along with the Asperger’s and people ASSUME it means I can’t do anything! And make it so by turning me down every time I offer!
Yours hopefully,
Chris.
People like me and children that live in Brighton and Hove parents the lot that need support and help we all need to face facts that we are fu××Ed And in this day an age in one of the biggest and most visited city’s in England to and there is no support or help kids are just naughty must be something going on at home and most adults with autism that are not supported or can’t get diagnosed turn to drugs then years later your just druggy scum it’s national hidden shame this needs to be spoken about on a national level England dirty little secret bushed under the carpet and they want to save prison places well numbers of undiagnosed? In prison and diagnosed? Would they be in trouble with the right help and support ? Well there’s a story coming out soon that proves the failings in Brighton and Hove and this true story will shock people in Brighton and Hove cost it shows and proves how wrong professions have been how the government fail autistic people children and there families this is top level government that need to tell us the why and the failings in Brighton and Hove and I’ve seen the evidence it’s sick what’s happen and people need to spot shying away from the. Big autism word and people and family’s Spaeak out cos I’ve seen legal papers and loads of legal stuff going back years but
Keeping my gob shut and I hope everyone sticks together and stands u for autism in Brighton and Hove